Social housing boost for Southport

• New seven-unit social housing complex opened in Southport
• Palaszczuk Government partnering with Community Housing (Qld) Limited to deliver a further 37 new social homes in Southport
• Delivering more social housing for Gold Coast

The Palaszczuk Government is delivering more social housing for residents on the Gold Coast, with the opening of a new seven-unit social housing complex and imminent construction on a further 37 new homes for vulnerable Queenslanders.

Minister for Housing Leeanne Enoch joined the Member for Gaven and Minister for Environment Meaghan Scanlon today to officially open the $2.51 million new social housing complex in Southport, constructed in partnership with Community Housing (Qld) Limited (CHQL).

The complex consists of two, one-bedroom units and five two-bedrooms units.

The units provide a modern, two-storey walk up design, with the six upper-level units built to Silver standard and the ground floor unit being Platinum standard that will be fully wheelchair accessible.

Quotes attributable to Housing Minister Leeanne Enoch:

“It’s a pleasure to welcome the first tenants as they move into their new homes here on the Gold Coast,”

“This project is a fantastic example of our government working in partnership with the community housing sector to deliver housing for Queenslanders who need stable, secure housing.

“The Palaszczuk Government is investing $3.9 billion in social and affordable housing.

“This is the largest concentrated investment in social housing in Queensland’s history.

“This investment means we are putting a roof over the heads of more vulnerable Queenslanders sooner. In fact, we will have commenced 13,000 new social and affordable homes by 2027.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Gaven Meghan Scanlon:

“The two projects in Southport will see an additional 44 households on the Gold Coast,”

“This is fantastic news for Southport and for the Gold Coast and demonstrates our government’s commitment to building new social housing to support people in need

“As part of our record investment, we will commence 2,765 social homes under our QuickStarts Qld program, of which 260 new homes will be commenced in the Gold Coast region, with a planned investment of $70.4 million over four years, supporting more than 225 full-time equivalent jobs.”

Quotes attributable to CHQL State Manager Alicia Follent:

“We are thrilled to welcome our tenants to their new homes and to see this wonderful development in Southport officially opened in partnership with the Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy,” she said.

“Community Housing Limited looks forward working with the Queensland Government in delivering more affordable housing for more Queenslanders.”

Further information:

MORE SOCIAL HOUSING ON THE GOLD COAST

The Palaszczuk Government is also partnering with the CHQL to deliver another social housing project in Southport, which will deliver 37 social homes once completed next year.

Work will soon begin on the $23.4 million project which the state is contributing $14.76 million to which once completed, will consist of 15 one-bedroom units, 22 two-bedroom units and two specialist disability accommodation dwellings.

HOUSING SUMMIT OUTCOMES

Following the Housing Summit, we’ve committed $56 million in new housing supply and support initiatives, together with a $1 billion boost to the Housing Investment Fund.

As an outcome of the Housing Summit and Housing Roundtable, we’re delivering:

• $11.7 million to expand tenancy sustainment responses  
• $10 million for expanding private rental assistance products and services for people experiencing severe rental stress to prevent them losing their tenancies  
• $10 million to deliver more temporary emergency accommodation with onsite support  
• $8.5 million to provide additional support for after-hours outreach services  
• $5 million boost to Immediate Housing Response package taking investment to $26 million in 2022–23  
• $3.3 million for cost-of-living relief, including emergency relief and food relief.

ENDS

Media contact: Bill Walker 0437 859 987